BSN or CEN?

Larry77, RN · Mar 24, 2014

I look at both but I am strongly encouraged to only hire BSN prepared RN's. We are on the "Magnet" journey so we are required to have 80% BSN RN's house-wide. That being said I would not discourage you from sitting for your CEN as well. I would look into doing your BSN online, if you are enrolled that would be enough for me to hire you, especially if you already have your CEN.

There is a lot of advice on how to pass the CEN on here but basically I would suggest you order the book from ENA and start studying your weak areas (that you discover during practice testing)--then schedule a date and go for it!

Good Luck,

Larry

PG2018 · Mar 24, 2014

Why not both? The last I read about CEN you could just study for it and take the test. I don't recall it being that pricey. My suggestion would be to get that done then start an online RN to BSN from a brick and mortar university. With an online program, you can still relocate to warmer areas.

zmansc, ASN, RN · Mar 24, 2014

Does your hospital pay you for either? Does your hospital have a tuition reimbursement program of any kind? I concur with PsychGuy, I would think you could study/review for the CEN and take it by the time fall semester starts for your BSN program. However, I would expect your hospital to have a program to assist you in the costs of one or both programs.

Murse901, MSN, RN · Mar 30, 2014

The short answer is: it depends.

You've already answered your own question, in part. If you're working at -- or looking to transfer to -- a Magnet hospital, you'll need that BSN under your belt. The CEN won't be much value if HR is tossing your app into the circular file. Bear in mind that nearly always, HR is the first gatekeeper, and most HR folk aren't bright enough to even try to figure out what a CEN is. All they know is that their organization prefers the BSN, so they'll toss the ADN apps before forwarding them.

From a hiring manager's perspective, I'd say the ADN with the CEN is more valuable than the BSN without. But, again, you have to get past HR.

As others have said, why not both? CEN isn't too terribly expensive, and your employer may actually reimburse you. My employer actually gave me a $500 bonus on top of the test fee for passing the CEN.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Mar 30, 2014

To align your education/certifications with your goals, I agree with Murse901 - do both a BSN and CEN. I took a semester off of my RN-BSN program to do my CEN, so now I have both. I also did the CPEN a couple of months after my BSN.

nurse2033, MSN, RN · Mar 31, 2014

In my opinion the CEN and the BSN aren't remotely comparable. The CEN is verification of knowledge and experience, but the BSN is much more work, much more money, and shows much more commitment to nursing. The BSN will put you ahead of other nurses when you look for your next job, especially if it is required. You have ten years or more of nursing ahead of you, I would invest in the BSN. After you have more experience the CEN you can get at your leisure.

Murse901, MSN, RN · Mar 31, 2014

the BSN is much more work, much more money, and shows much more commitment to nursing.

Let's not fool ourselves here. The BSN is longer, but is not "much more work". More busywork, maybe. More time spent learning about research methods and leadership, maybe. But, not more real work.

The BSN is not "much more money", at least in my region. Some hospitals here pay a 25 cent per hour pittance to the BSN, most hospitals here pay no different for the BSN vs. the ADN.

The BSN does not show "much more commitment to nursing" than the ADN. I think that anyone who trudges through a nursing program, regardless of length, is committed to nursing.

The research on BSN's providing better care than ADN's is laughable at best. We hear it over and over that BSN's tend to have better patient outcomes, but when you sit down and read the actual research article, the methods are hardly scientific and the outcomes are biased. I'd love to write an entire review on one such article, but I don't have the time, so I'll provide one that's already been written: http://skepticalscalpel.blogspot.com/2013/04/do-bsn-nurses-provide-better-care.html

I absolutely urge all nurses -- and all non-nurses -- to get as much education as possible. Yes, get that BSN, if for no other reason than to say that you did it.

But, never fall into the trap of thinking that you're "better than" -- or "less than" -- just because you have different initials.

nurse2033, MSN, RN · Mar 31, 2014

Dear Murse: Are you confusing an ASN with the CEN? I never said that a BSN is better than an ASN. I never said it was desirable. I was just comparing it to the CEN. The BSN requires hundreds of hours of studying, reading, and writing. I call that a lot of work. The fact that you don't think the "work" is worthwhile does not make it any less work. I took the CEN without studying, so I call that- no work. I did have to drive to the test and take it though. As for cost, the CEN costs a few hundred dollars where a BSN costs several thousands at least. I was referring to the cost of the BSN, not what you will get for it. Again, I wasn't comparing the BSN to the ASN as you inferred, or maybe just weren't reading carefully. As I've already stated, the BSN requires more time, effort and money to obtain than the CEN. This makes it much more of a commitment. Any manager, all other things being equal, would probably hire the BSN over the ASN.

Murse901, MSN, RN · Apr 1, 2014

Dear Murse: Are you confusing an ASN with the CEN?

Unfortunately, I misread and misunderstood your intentions. All apologies.

I would argue, however, that you probably did do some work in preparing for the CEN, albeit perhaps not purposefully. If someone were able to successfully sit for the CEN without spending a couple thousand hours in the ED and/or prehospital, my hat would be off to them.

But, certainly, the BSN is takes far more effort than the CEN. Again, my apologies.

fedafedafeda · Apr 1, 2014

In most hospitals CEN will get you into a job faster than BSN. The exception is in Magnet status hospitals or hospitals working towards Magnet status. And that is only because of HR's algorithms for employment. There is a reason our hospital gives you a .50 cent raise for BSN and a .75 cent raise for CEN. If you are certified in a department it shows you have experience and knowledge in that department. BSN just shows you have more school... Just look into the hospital you want to work for and see what they would prefer. In my hospital we are a Level 1 trauma center and I got hired in the ED with only having an ADN and experience in the ED and I beat out BSN Candidates with no ED experience. It's all about the hospital preference...

exit96 · Apr 5, 2014

Let's not fool ourselves here. The BSN is longer, but is not "much more work". More busywork, maybe. More time spent learning about research methods and leadership, maybe. But, not more real work.
The BSN is not "much more money", at least in my region. Some hospitals here pay a 25 cent per hour pittance to the BSN, most hospitals here pay no different for the BSN vs. the ADN.
The BSN does not show "much more commitment to nursing" than the ADN. I think that anyone who trudges through a nursing program, regardless of length, is committed to nursing.
The research on BSN's providing better care than ADN's is laughable at best. We hear it over and over that BSN's tend to have better patient outcomes, but when you sit down and read the actual research article, the methods are hardly scientific and the outcomes are biased. I'd love to write an entire review on one such article, but I don't have the time, so I'll provide one that's already been written: Skeptical Scalpel: Do BSN nurses provide better care?
I absolutely urge all nurses -- and all non-nurses -- to get as much education as possible. Yes, get that BSN, if for no other reason than to say that you did it.
But, never fall into the trap of thinking that you're "better than" -- or "less than" -- just because you have different initials.

THIS TIMES 1000!!!!